U.S. prosecutors have seized more than $25 million in cryptocurrency tied to international investment and romance scams that defrauded thousands of victims across the United States and Canada, the Justice Department announced Tuesday. The funds were traced through multiple intermediary wallets where they had been commingled, according to civil forfeiture complaints filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the U.S. Secret Service Washington Field Office.
This seizure is part of the ongoing work of the Scam Center Strike Force, launched in November 2025. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro stated that investigators “cut through complex laundering schemes” to recover the money.
Five civil forfeiture complaints were filed in connection with the seizure. The largest complaint targets $12.1 million linked to romance scams affecting over 200 individuals. Additionally, approximately $10.4 million was flagged by Canadian authorities across more than 270 suspected victim transactions. The remaining three cases involve a combined total of $2.7 million.
Evidence suggests the launderers were primarily based in Southeast Asia, with IP addresses traced to China, Malaysia, and Cambodia. Interpol has identified this region as a significant hub for scam economies, posing a global threat. Reports indicate that a substantial portion of these crypto investment and romance scams are operated from forced-labor compounds in Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos, where trafficked workers are allegedly coerced into defrauding victims worldwide.
These investigations remain active, and the recovered funds push the Scam Center Strike Force’s cumulative total past $800 million. This effort follows a significant action in October, when U.S. and UK authorities charged Cambodia’s Prince Group and seized over 127,000 Bitcoin, valued at approximately $12 billion at the time—the largest civil seizure and forfeiture in the Department of Justice’s history.
While law enforcement is actively pursuing and seizing illicit cryptocurrency assets, significant uncertainties persist. These include the exact number of victims across all scams, the total value of cryptocurrency laundered, and the full extent of the criminal operations. The ongoing efforts underscore the complex and global nature of financial crime and the persistent challenges in combating sophisticated digital fraud.
Broader Context
Source materials place the factual news in this context: The seizure stems from the Scam Center Strike Force, launched in November 2025 by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Why This Matters
The U.S. government’s successful seizure of over $25 million in cryptocurrency highlights the persistent threat of sophisticated international scams and the ongoing efforts to disrupt these criminal networks. The Scam Center Strike Force’s cumulative haul exceeding $800 million demonstrates a significant, albeit ongoing, battle against illicit digital assets, underscoring the evolving tactics of cybercriminals and law enforcement’s adaptive strategies.
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